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In execution of Directive No.528-TTg on the 29th of September, 1994 of the Prime Minister "to ban the raising and to eradicate immediately the yellow snails (scientific name: Pamecca Canalicunata)", the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry has, together with the concerned ministries and the administration at various levels in the localities, effected the dismantlement of the industrial farms raising yellow snails, and gathered 150 tons of snails and 14 tons of their eggs. But this pest remains a great disaster and a major threat to agricultural production. The Prime Minister has issued a second directive, Directive No.151-TTg on the 11th of March, 1995, ordering the "concentration of forces to quickly eradicate the yellow snail pest". The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, the Ministry of Aquatic Resources, and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment provide the following guidance for the execution of the above-said Directive:

I. General principle:

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, the Ministry of Aquatic Resources, and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment regard the yellow snail as an object of botanical quarantine, which needs to be eradicated thoroughly.

- The above-said Ministries shall coordinate with one another to organize their investigation and research, in order to perfect the measures for eradication of the yellow snails.

- The three Ministries shall mobilize the forces within their jurisdiction at both the center and in the localities, and shall cooperate with the local administration at all levels to eradicate the yellow snails.

II . Measures to eradicate the yellow snails:

A/ Prevention of yellow snails:

1. The importation of yellow snails is strictly banned.

2. It is strictly forbidden to transport yellow snails from one region to another.

3. It is strictly forbidden to buy, sell or exchange yellow snails at the markets and restaurants.

B. Eradication of yellow snails:

1. No organization and no individual are allowed to breed yellow snails in any form. All the yellow snails at the snail breeding farms must have been destroyed by the end of April 1995 at the latest.

2. To collect and gather snails and their eggs in the fields.

3. To release ducks on the fields before the transplanting of rice seedlings, so that they may eat snails, especially young snails. To dig a ditch 20 cm deep around field plots, in order to concentrate the snails for easy collection. To plant stakes in the fields for the snails to lay their eggs in order to collect them and destroy their eggs.

4. To organize forces to collect snails and their eggs in the ponds, lakes and canals. To release ducks to eat the snails. Where the ponds and lakes are closely embanked, to release black trout (scientific name: Mylopharyngodow piceus) to eat the snails.

5. To erect nets and bamboo walls on the streams to prevent the snails from spreading, and to concentrate them for easy collection.

6. In the places with a high density of snails, to use, when necessary, the vegetal pesticide Rotect or Padan 95% to kill the snails, but this must be done under the direct guidance of the botanical protection and quarantine workers, in order to assure efficiency, and avoid damaging the environment and the fishes there.

III. Organization of guidance work in implementation:

1. To set up the Steering Committee for Eradication of Yellow Snails:

- At the center: composed of department-level officials of the three Ministries, and headed by a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry.

- In the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government: composed of representatives of the Agriculture Service, the Aquaculture Service and the Science, Technology and Environment Service headed by the Head of the Agriculture Service, and placed under the direct leadership of the President of the provincial People's Committee.

- At the districts: headed by the President of the district People's Committee, and including representatives of the Agriculture Section, and the concerned sections and commissions.

- At the communes and wards: headed by the President of the commune or ward People's Committee, and including the Heads of hamlets or villages, and representatives of the organizations concerned.

2. Tasks of the Steering Committee:

- To direct the localities to carry out measures for eradicating yellow snails.

- To assist the local administrations to compile general reports, and send them periodically on the 30th of each month, and sum up the campaign of eradication of yellow snails to report to the higher-level Steering Committee.

- To propose the authorized levels to penalize those organizations and individuals who fail to carry out strictly the Directive of the Prime Minister.

3. Operational period of the Steering Committees at various levels: from March 1995 to June 1995.

In the immediate future, two drives of concentrated activity shall be launched, concentrating all forces (population, pupils, army) to destroy the yellow snails in March and April, each drive lasting from five to seven days. All households have to collect yellow snails in the fields, lakes and ponds under their right to use. The mobilized forces shall concentrate the gathering and destruction of yellow snails in the public ponds, lakes and canals, and to aid the families who cannot gather the snails by their own forces and means.

In the process of carrying out this Circular, if some difficulties arise, or if they have to make any proposal, the branches and localities shall send their opinions in time to the Central Steering Committee for Eradication of Yellow Snails (the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry) for settlement.

CIRCULAR No.4/TTLB ON THE 22ND OF MARCH, 1995 GUIDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DIRECTIVE No.151-TTg ON THE 11TH OF MARCH, 1995 OF THE PRIME MINISTER TO CONCENTRATE FORCES TO QUICKLY ERADICATE THE YELLOW SNAIL PEST